Criminal Investigator Job Description

Law and order are one of the most important cornerstones of civilization. The fact that crime still exists suggests that it will never go away and people able to work in law enforcement will always be sought after. There isn’t a way to end crime. People are the root cause and as long as there are people making their own choices they will commit crimes. The criminal investigator job description will break down what you can expect to do within this career path. The key is that you will work on major crimes and try to find and bring in those that committed the worst crimes imaginable.

Criminal Investigation Careers

The first thing you should be aware of when you start to consider criminal investigation careers is the inevitability that you will be working with heinous crimes throughout your entire working life. From murder to drug related violence or abuse, you will likely see some of the most brutal and difficult to stomach crime scenes. If you have it in you to work on these types of crimes, you will find a great career and a high demand for your skills in the job sector.

To get started, your first step needs to be an education. You will need to earn a bachelor’s degree in a forensic science in most cases, at a minimum, and pass a certification test as you move towards your career. If you want to have a better chance to move up in the field, or a better chance to enter at a high pay rate, you may want to consider moving towards a master’s degree with a criminal justice focus. You will still need to ensure that you earn a certification before becoming employed, but a master’s degree will take you far in the criminal investigation career path.

Most criminal investigators (also known as crime scene investigators) earn around $55,000 to start. That amount may vary based on your location, education, experience, and employer. Be sure to talk with a local law enforcement office before you get too far in your education to get a good idea of what your potential employers are looking for from fresh graduates. Earning experience is paramount and finding a way to balance your personal and school schedule alongside a work schedule can seem daunting. Surprisingly, many criminal investigators have followed this path and made it easier on themselves by attending online degree programs. With a little self-motivation, you will be able to make the push to earn a degree while also working and gaining experience in the field. All of this will make you much more desirable to employers.

Online College Courses

Many students do not consider taking an online degree program because it seems foreign and difficult. The reality is that online degree programs are very simple to handle and understand and the education contains all of the same materials. You won’t be taking a hit on your education by learning at your own pace.

Once you enroll in an online course, you will be given access to an online hub that gives you access to each of your online courses. Within these courses you will find the tools you need to succeed. The key is following the course schedule. As long as you are completing graded assignments by the time they are due on the course calendar, your daily schedule is yours to make. This freedom is extremely important for many students and makes it possible to go to school on any schedule. Be sure to talk with admissions advisors to get all of the information you need to make sure your first step is as free from stress as possible